Suotuo City

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Qin Ming carried out basic physical training while developing the abilities and applications of his Martial Soul, living a rather fulfilling life.

Nuo Si arrived as promised.

Qin Ming and his companion also told Nuo Si of their wish to join Spirit Hall.

"Hahaha, a wise choice." Nuo Si laughed heartily. The fatigue he had accumulated over the past half month was swept away by Qin Ming's words: "I'm willing to join Spirit Hall."

"Qin Ming, welcome to Spirit Hall. We'll discuss your specific arrangements after we return to Suotuo City."

"Qin Ming, take this." Qin Chuan, standing nearby, stuffed a cloth pouch into Qin Ming's hands.

"This is a little of the savings your parents left behind. Since you'll be on your own out there, spend it sparingly."

The cloth pouch was heavy, clearly carrying no small amount of weight. Based on what Qin Ming knew of Qin Chuan, he had definitely added some of his own savings to it. But to make Qin Ming accept it more easily, he claimed it had all been left behind by his parents.

"Uncle Chuan, I'll repay you someday," Qin Ming said solemnly.

Qin Chuan burst out laughing. "Brat, you think I need you to repay me? Focus on obtaining your first Soul Ring first."

"Village Chief Qin Chuan, don't worry. With Qin Ming's talent, he'll probably break through to Rank 10 Soul Power within a few months."

"Then my colleagues and I will personally take Qin Ming hunting for a Soul Ring. In a few years, he'll probably surpass you." Nuo Si teased.

"Ah, I'm old!" Qin Chuan waved his hand and surrendered outright. With his innate Rank 1 Soul Power talent, reaching Rank 20 was basically already his limit.

In a few years, Qin Ming might even become a Soul Grandmaster.

After bidding farewell to several elders in the village whom he knew well, Qin Ming boarded Nuo Si's carriage.

Carriages were relatively expensive means of transportation on Douluo Continent, because the cost of raising horses was beyond what ordinary people could afford. Canglang Village had only simple ox carts.

Canglang Village was three days away from Suotuo City. During those three days, Nuo Si taught Qin Ming about Martial Souls, Soul Beasts, and the world of Spirit Masters.

Although Qin Ming had read the original novel, he did not understand the details of this world, and he found himself repeatedly amazed as he listened.

Nuo Si truly deserved to be a Spirit Master specially responsible for Martial Soul awakenings. His knowledge was broad, and he could speak knowledgeably on just about any subject.

The three days passed amid Nuo Si's half-storytelling, half-instruction. The gravel road beneath the carriage gradually became a smooth stone-paved road.

A towering city wall slowly appeared on the horizon.

This was the first time Qin Ming had visited such a large city since transmigrating into this world.

"Well? Spectacular, isn't it?"

"Suotuo City is the second-largest city in our Balak Kingdom. As for the largest, that would naturally be the capital, Barak City." Nuo Si introduced it to Qin Ming from the side.

"Yes, it's spectacular." Qin Ming nodded. It perfectly matched everything he had imagined an otherworldly city to be.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the city gate. Nuo Si presented his Spirit Hall deacon's token, and the guards let the two of them through without even checking them.

"Well? This is the continent's number one power." Nuo Si raised his eyebrows at Qin Ming, as if to say, See? Your choice was right.

"It really is pretty impressive." Qin Ming had now personally witnessed Spirit Hall's special status on the continent.

A long line stretched outside Suotuo City, and everyone had to be inspected one by one before entering. Spirit Hall, however, could take a special passage directly and did not need to undergo any inspection.

So this is what privilege is? Qin Ming sighed inwardly. How sinful...

"The gate we entered through is called the East Gate, and the road we're on is Suotuo Avenue. Suotuo Avenue runs straight through all of Suotuo City, connecting the East Gate and West Gate."

"Suotuo City is thus divided into the South District and North District. Look, that central area is the City Lord's Mansion." As they walked, Nuo Si introduced Qin Ming to Suotuo City's layout and geography.

It had to be said that Nuo Si really had a talent for being an instructor. Qin Ming had been completely won over by his enthusiasm and eloquence.

If this were his previous life, he would at least have been a top salesman.

"We'll head straight to the Martial Soul Main Hall now. I'll take you to meet Bishop Charlton."

"Bishop Charlton is a Rank 67 War Soul Emperor. He's very formidable, and his temper is good too. Don't say too much later. Leave it to me." Nuo Si patted his chest, looking as if he had everything under control.

Qin Ming nodded helplessly with a bitter smile. Nuo Si probably thought he would be extremely nervous the first time he faced someone at the level of a Soul Emperor.

After all, a Soul Emperor could be considered a high-level Spirit Master, enough to serve as the red-robed bishop of the Martial Soul Main Hall in a city on Suotuo City's level.

Suotuo City's Martial Soul Main Hall stood in the city's southwestern corner. It was not merely a single building, but an entire complex. Its scale was unmatched throughout Suotuo City aside from the City Lord's Mansion.

"Our Martial Soul Main Hall has nearly a thousand years of history..." Nuo Si said as he led Qin Ming inside.

After briefly explaining Qin Ming's situation, the guards at the entrance allowed the two of them through.

The main hall was filled with magnificent golden sculptures. Looking up, Qin Ming saw all manner of Martial Souls carved into the circular dome.

At the very center was the Six-Winged Angel. Beside it were the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Clear Sky Hammer, Golden Crocodile King, Seven Kill Sword, and many Martial Souls Qin Ming could not even name.

Looks like I need to seriously catch up on my knowledge of Martial Souls and Soul Beasts. Qin Ming silently committed them to memory.

Nuo Si led Qin Ming across the central courtyard and arrived before a study in the rear courtyard. Just as he was about to knock, an argument erupted from inside.

"You people from Spirit Hall are truly unreasonable! I've come here several times, yet you keep putting me off with all sorts of excuses." The voice was shrill, belonging to a middle-aged man. The fury contained within his words was obvious.

Nuo Si withdrew the hand he had extended halfway. His eyes shifted as though he had thought of something, and he took Qin Ming by the hand and slowly retreated to the side.

Qin Ming was a little confused. What was going on? He had just arrived at Spirit Hall and already encountered someone causing trouble? Judging by Nuo Si's reaction, he intended to avoid the confrontation.

"Sir Flender, you should have come here many times before, and I have already made this very clear to you."

"Your Shrek Academy does not meet the standards for operating a high-level Soul Master Academy, so Spirit Hall cannot issue you a license to establish one."

Flender! Qin Ming's heart jolted violently.

He had already prepared himself to encounter Flender in Suotuo City. After all, according to the current timeline, the Golden Iron Triangle should already have disbanded. It was not strange for Flender to have come to Suotuo City at this time.

The person responding sounded rather helpless, but still patiently continued explaining to the person on the other side.

"The site you applied to use for your school is Wild Chicken Village beside Suotuo City. You do not own that land."

"This... I've already discussed it with the villagers there. They can let me borrow that land to establish a Soul Master Academy." Flender had clearly been struck where it hurt. Even his voice behind the door became much quieter.

"That does not comply with regulations, Sir Flender. Furthermore, the headmaster of a high-level Soul Master Academy must at least be a Soul Saint. Does your Shrek Academy have a Soul Saint?"

"I'm already Rank 68. In just a few years, I'll be able to break through—"

"Rules are rules. There can be no exceptions." Another voice directly cut Flender off, not giving him any opportunity at all.

"Deacon Nuo Si, what is this about?" Qin Ming asked quietly from the side. From the sound of it, Flender had been refused legal authorization to establish his school.

"Hehe, Qin Ming, let me explain it properly to you. Flender is a Soul Emperor who came to Suotuo City only within the past two years."

"He reached Rank 68 Soul Power before even turning forty. With talent like that, he'll probably break through to Soul Saint in just a few years."

"Oh, right, right. Just like you, he has a Mutated Martial Soul!"

"His Martial Soul is the Four-Eyed Owl, a mutation oriented toward the spiritual category, while your Inferno Grey Wolf is a mutation oriented toward the Fire Attribute."

P.S.: Let me sort out the timeline for everyone. Tang San was born in Douluo Calendar 2631 (the animation; the original novel did not mention it). Tang San first met Qin Ming shortly after joining Shrek Academy, when Tang San was twelve years old, in Douluo Calendar 2643.

Qin Ming was already thirty-four at the time, so it can be inferred that Qin Ming awakened his Martial Soul in Douluo Calendar 2615, sixteen years before Tang San's birth.

(Aside from the Douluo Calendar, which follows the animation, everything else in this book follows the novel's settings.)